The orthodox faith and vvay to the Church explaned and iustified in answer to a popish treatise, entituled, White died blacke; wherein T.W. p. in his triple accusation of D. White for impostures, vntruths, and absurd illations, is proued a trifler: and the present controuersies betweene vs and the Romanists are more fully deliuered and cleared. By Francis White Bachelour in Diuinitie, and elder brother of Doctor Iohn White.

Paragr. 6. Wherein D. White is accused of corrupting S. Aug. de Ciuit. Dei. l. 19. c. 27.

T. W. S. Augustines testimonie truly alledged, is, This our iustice, though it be true, by reason of the end of the true good, whereunto it is referred, yet it is such in this life, as that it rather consisteth of the remission of our sins, then of the perfection of vertues. Here first our Minister addeth the word all, for greater swelling and fulnesse of speech, which is not in S. Augustine.

Answ. Your selfe haue changed this Fathers words: for he saith, Ipsa nostra iustitia, our very iustice it selfe: that is, our purest iustice, our whole iustice, and euery part thereof, which is fully equipollent to all our iustice, and rather more emphaticall: as if one should say, Our very life is miserable; he intendeth, that all our life, and euery passage and degree thereof is such: and you say, Ista no∣stra iustitia, this our iustice, &c.

T. W. Secondly, he leaueth out a parcell of the same sen∣tence,

(to wit, although our iustice be true, by reason of the end of the true good, whereunto it is referred) in which S. Au∣gustine acknowledgeth the very Catholicke doctrine of iustifi∣cation, to wit, that our iustice is true iustice; against which, this very place is vrged.

Answ. D. White produceth this testimonie to proue that sinne cleaueth to the workes of the godly, and ble∣misheth them in partc: and therefore, that they may be fully iust, they haue need of remission of sinne adherent.

And if you be not transported with affection, you cannot accuse my brother for alledging it to this end: be∣caused D. Stapleton and other of your owne partie, haue produced it to the like purposee: and the place of it selfe doth effectually proue so much. Now presupposing the perpetuall concomitance of remission of sinnes with our iustice, we acknowledge, according to the holy Scripture, Eph. 4.24. and S. Augustine, that the righteousnesse of re∣generation is true iustice, not onely in comparison of wicked∣nesse, but according to the rule of vertuef.

But this euinceth not, that the same is able to iustifie man, according to S. Paul his acceptation of iustification, Rom. 4. First, because it is lesse in quantitie then the mo∣rall law of God requiresg. Secondly, because it is, by ad∣herence of sinfulnesse, so farre contaminate in qualitie, that it hath alwayes need of pardon, and new imputation of Christs merits, both to supply the defect, and to re∣mit the adherent impuritie. Thirdly, because Christ hath not bestowed or appointed it to that end. Gal. 3.21.

T. W. He falsly translateth for his owne aduantage, per∣fectione virtutum, by perfection of iustice.

Answ. Your selfe haue translated, tanta, so great, a word noting the quātitie and perfection of our iustice, by talis,

such, a word signifying the qualitie: and so whereas S. Augustine meaneth, that mans righteousnesse is so small in qualitie, that therefore it consisteth rather in remission of sins then perfection of iustice; you will haue it to be onely such, as hath remission of veniall sinnes going with it.

But forasmuch as the word vertue, according to your owne Doctors, noteth both the habite and the acth, and your inherent iustice containes no more; I know no cause why in translation, these two words may not be vsed as synonimies. It is reported of Domitian the Emperour, that he vsed to sit in his chamber, and catch fliesi. This Priest might well haue bene his companion, who wan∣ting better emploiment, occupies himselfe in these petite cauils.

And now for a conclusion of this section, I desire the Reader to obserue, that whereas this clamorous P. P. in the first chapter of his booke hath made fiue assaults a∣gainst D. White, and inserted into each of them, many refuse and abusiue reproches: That in regard of the mat∣ter, he is fully answered, and his first encounter is wholly defeated. And concerning his railing, I will say no more, but that as dogs vse to pisse in the fairest places of the house; so it is no newes to heare Popish Priests to reuile them which are of worthy desert in Gods Church.

Notes

• Aug. de ciu Dei l. 19. c. 27. Ipsa nostra iustitia quamuis vera sit propter veri bo∣ni finem ad quē refertur: tanta tamen est in hac vita, vt potius re∣missione pecca∣torum constet quàm perfecti∣one virtutum.
• c

  See Aug. cont Iulian. l. 2. in Hi∣lario.
• d

  Stapl. de iustif. l. 6. c. 8.
• e

  Cassand. con∣sult. art. 6. 10. Lo. Viues schol. in Aug. de ciuit. Dei. l. 19. c. 27. Vega pro con∣cil. l. 15. c. 20. mentioneth some Papists who haue vsed this place of Aug. as before.
• f

  Aug. cont. 2. e∣pist. Pelag l. 3. c. 7. &c. 10 Iu∣stitia secundum quam iustus ex fide viuit, est ve∣ra iustitia, regu∣la virtutum. Caluin. instit. l 3. c. 15. §. 7.
• g

  Reade after∣ward Obseru. 2. §. 1. concerning iustif. the end of this chap. where you shall find this afterward confirmed.
• h

  Bellar. de amis gratiae l. 1. c. 1. Stapl. de iustif. l. 5. prolog. 3. See Durand. 2. d. 26. q. 1. Ru∣ard. n. 2. de iu∣stif. Ab ipsa vir¦tute sola ratione differens.
• i

  Sueton. in Do∣mitian. c. 3. Te∣nebras & secre∣ta captauit, & muscas figebat.
• Ioseph. Scaliger. cont. Serrar. de sect.